Message based transport mechanism for level sensitive interrupts

US7181559B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frank Barth · Radebeul, DE
• Jörg Winkler · Ullersdorf, DE
• Thomas Kunjan · Dresden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 21, 2004
• Grant date: Feb 20, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 18, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F13/24
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An interrupt handling technique is provided that may allow for sharing level sensitive interrupts in systems where interrupts are message based, i.e., edge triggered. An interrupt input unit is provided for receiving level sensitive interrupt requests and generating request occurrence signals therefrom. An edge detection unit generates start signals for edge triggered interrupt messages on the basis of the request occurrence signals. An interrupt termination detection unit receives termination signals each indicating that an interrupt routine relating to a previous edge triggered interrupt message has terminated. The interrupt input unit is controlled to output a request occurrence signal in response to a received termination signal if a previously received level sensitive interrupt request is still active. That is, a second edge triggered interrupt message may be generated.